Portable shower unit



J. F. CHRISTIAN PORTABLE SHOWER UNIT Feb. 2, 1960 Filed Jan. 30, 1958 IN V EN TOR. John F C/zrz'sh'an BY flm'fwl A77'0AIYEX5 United States Patent 2,923,480 PORTABLE SHOWER John Christian, Washing ton, Application January 30, 1958, Serial No. 712,285

4 Claims. (Cl. 239-139) I (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) i has utility in industries using toxics such as strong acids or alkalies.

Decontamination shower units previously used have generally been modifications of portable personal hygiene showers or portable spray units similar to those used for the distribution or dispersion of insecticides or other sprays. Shower units of this type are usually too heavy and bulky for the instant purpose because they are comprised of several shower heads, water heating and storage facilities, tentage and other. equipment. Portable sprayers lack capacity and rate of flow.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mobile, portable, compact shower of unitary structure capable of delivering a deluge of rinsing liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable decontamination shower unit that is constantly ready for emergency use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a decontamination unit of this type that is easily and quickly actuated by a single individual.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable shower unit containing integral heating and pressure systems.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-closing quick acting valve and actuator adapted to an integral shower unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds and the features of novelty will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention there is provided an integral unitary decontamination shower including a liquid reservoir, heater, pressure system and distribution system capable of delivering a heated liquid under pressure at a constant high rate of flow for a short period of time. The unit is compact and without extra weight so .as to be readily movable from one location to another, either by dragging it or by hauling it as cargo. Simple operation is provided so that an individual in need of decontamination may receive a deluge of rinsing liquid without loss of time by merely stepping on a treadle to initiate release of the rinsing liquid while dressed in cumbersome protective clothing that may include large, cumbersome gloves or other materials handling equipment.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Patented Feb. 2, 1960 2 specification and illustrating a preferred embodimeiit of the improvements comprising the invention: 7 a Fig. l is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of a complete shower unit; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the actuating valveof the unit of Fig. 1; As illustrated in Fig; 1 of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a reservoir in the form of tank 1 resting on skid mount 2, heaters 3, pressure system 4 and fluid distribution system 5. The insulated tank 1 of any reasonable capacity'secured upright on the skid mount is generally cylindrical with a convex top 41 and a concave bottom 42 and is provided with a plurality of vents, taps and pipe connections; The tank is provided with an inlet port 6 and cap 7 for filling the tank. Cap 7 is provided with a plurality of vents 8 for] the automatic relief of pressures in the tank on partial removal of the cap. Drain plug 9 with fusible core 10 is provided both for routine draining and as a safety featurewhich will automatically drain the tank in the event of overheating. The tank is also provided with a concave bottom to facilitate draining and to facilitate transfer of heat by radiation from heating units 3 beneath the tank to the liquid content of the tank and is provided with through pipes or vents 11 for the purpose of carry? ing hot gases through the body of the tank constituting heat exchangers and flues for the heating units.

Skid mount 2 constitutes the frame of the unit support ing all of the elements of the shower. to provide short range mobility, and is constructed with skids 12 tapered front and rear to permit the unit to be dragged in sled fashion. The skids have enclosing panels 32 on two sides with ports or hand holes 33 for inspection and servicing of the heaters 3. Skid mount 2 is also provided with bracket 13 supporting removable heaters 3 which are, in the embodiment illustrated, ordinary liquidfuel fired truck flares or highway torches, commercially available with self-contained fuel reservoir bottom 43 and burner top 44. Alternatively, gas or electric type heaters may be used when expedient. For example, immersion type electric heaters permit use of the shower in hazardous area where an open flame is prohibited. The electric immersion heater, when used, is provided with an explosion proof junction box, not shown, and is screwed into a boss on the sideof the tank. Ignition of heaters. 3 applies heat to the under surface of the tank and the inner surfaces of pipes 11. Although the embodiment of Fig. 1 indicates two heaters and two through pipes, this number may be varied according to the heating demands of any particular use. For example, it has been found that four kerosene fueled truck flares centered beneath four vertical flues can maintain a gallon tank of water at F. when the outside temperature is 25 F. A thermometer, not shown, indicating the water temperature may be mounted on the tank to permit periodic inspection to insure that the water in the tank does not become too uncomfortably hot.

Pressure system 4 is provided as a means for driving liquid from the tank at a constant high rate of flow. The source of pressure is compressed air or other gas such as nitrogen contained in compressed gas cylinder 14 which is conveyed through hose 15 to a pressure regulator valve 16 in communication with the interior of the tank. Regulator 16 controls the delivery of compressed air to the interior of the tank maintaining the pressure inside the tank at any predetermined amount as, for example, 50 pounds per square inch which in a particular adaptation of a unit having a 100 gallon liquid tank will deliver aflow of approximately 100 gallons per minute.

Delivery of the liquid is through valve body 17, pipe 18 and shower head 19, constituting the portions of distribution system 5 principally visible in Fig. 1. Shower water in pipe 18. which prevents freezing.

heads providing various horizontal angles of spread of valve body 17 includesvalve .20: seated against valveiseat 21 by the actionof valve spring 22; acting against piston 23 which is connected to the valve by valve stem 24. Actuation of the valve is by movement of valve piston 23 'with the valve stem and valve toward the interior of the tank against opposition of spring 22. Thismovement of the valve piston is accomplished by rotation of plate or lever 25 about pivot 26 forcing cam surface 27 against the valve piston. Plate 25 is operated by means of treadle' 28 which isconnected to the plate by;means of linkage 29 and overrun spring 3t) that adjusts-the system: to-cornpensate' for travel of the treadle through a greater distance than the'lever arm of plate 25'. The valve body .17 is provided with a drain hole 31 to drain Although, as pointed out above, .the instant shower unit is particularly adapted to the decontamination of personnel or equipment, the portability, compactness, unitary structure and independence from outside power supply are such that the shower would have utility as a personal hygiene shower bath for locations having-only a: few persons. Similarly, inspite of the fact that the subject structure was devised'to fulfill'the peculiar demands of the military service for compactness, portability, and. independence from source connections and at the same time to fnlfill the peculiar demands of toxicgmaterialshandling.techniques of instant high sustained fiow, the invention has obvious utility in industry as decontamiuation equipment and is very adaptable to use as -a personal hygiene shower for hunting lodges, seashore cabins, and similar locations.

Therefore, although the embodiment illustrated and described is directed toward decontamination use-with other utility as stated,it mustbe understood that modifications to meet those other uses-are considered tobe within the scope of this invention. Exemplary of modifications that may be made 'within the spirit ofthe invention are the useof a plurality of gas cylinders or-shower heads, changes of capacity or rates of flow, change of number or size of heating elements, the installation-"of automatic, thermostatically controlledheating units, the increasingof mobility by the addition of wheels, and the addition of other attachments for carrying out'decontamination procedures such as an eye wash fountain.

I claim:

1. An integral, portable shower unit comprising a mobile base supporting a liquid reservoir, aself-drained, valved liquidconduit means attached to the liquidreservoir in liquid carrying communication with the lower portion thereof and extending upwards along said liquid reservoir terminatingin an elevated, downwardly directed shower head, a pressure reservoir also mounted on said 'base proximate said liquid reservoir, a fluid pressure regulator valve mounted on and in communicationwith said liquid reservoir, a'fluid conduit interconnecting said pressure reservoir and said fluid pressure regulator valve,

iat least' one-selfecontained heater mountedon-said'base below said liquid reservoir and a heat exchanger pipe mounted in, and running completely through, said liquidreservoirfrom directly above each said heater to the atmosphere above said liquid reservoir. i

2. An integral, "portable shower unit comprising a mobile base supporting a liquid-reservoir, .a pressure reservoir, a plurality of self-sufficient heaters spaced beneathlsaid liquidreservoir, a heat exchanger pipe extendrng through .said liquid reservoir from the space between the liquidreservoir and heater upwards' to the atmpsphere above the liquid-reservoir, afluid pressureeon- .veyingj'tube interrupted by a fluid pressure regulating-valve valve actuating means for operating said valve attached.

to the exterior of said housing, and a treadle. located alongside said base beneath said shower head and connected to said valve actuating means, whereby a person maybe deluged by. heated liquid by stepping on said treadle. I p p 3. An integral, mobile portable shower unit comprising a. base supportinga reservoir having at least one through pipe extending vertically through the reservoir in liquid tight relation therewithand communicating with the interior of the-base and the atmosphere. above the reservoir; an inletport .for said reservoir having a pressure tight inlet cap; an integral fueltcontaining rcombusr tion type+heating unitsupported. by the .basexbeneath said reservoirysaid pipe being in. alignment with. said heating unit for venting saidheating unit and. simultaneously heating liquid in said reservoir; a compressed gas cylinder supported on the base;.a pressure regulator'valve on the reservoir in eommunicationtwith the interiorfoft the reservoir; a gas oonduitinterconnecting thegascylinder and the pressure regulator valve for admitting gas. at predetermined pressure into the reservoir; a shower "head andpipeconnected to the reservoirby a.self-draining.

valve housing for fluid communication between thezlower part of the reservoir and the pipe; and valving means in the valvexhousing, .said valving means includingia valve seat on thatportion of the valve housing'communicating with the interior of the reservoir, a stemmed" valve. in

the valve housing seated against the valve seat withrits stem protrudingthrough the'interior of the valve housing,terminatiirg in an enlarged valve piston-fitted for reciprocal motion in the wall of the; housingandtherebv constituting a moving portion of the'wall of the valve housing, a lever pivotally secured to the valvehousing having a cam portion. bearing againstthevalvepiston, a foot operated treadle and mechanical linkagemeans interconnecting said treadle and lever; whereby actuation of-thetreadle will movethe valve piston,.valvestem and valve to initiate flow from the reservoir tethe; shower head of any liquid in thereservoir.

4. A portable showerunit as recited inclaimfi'wherein said self-draining valve housing includes, a draimopening in said housing remote from the openingreceiving said .pipe, said drain opening being of substantially smaller diameter than said pipe opening whereby'zliquid infisaidpipe may be drained when said valvetstops the flow of liquid from said reservoir-to preveptzireezing of said valve.

References Cited inthe file of thislpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

42.1714 Stark --.-.-."M3Y;Z5; 1836 1 ;3Q3,2,01 Hobbs, .-May 6, 9 .9 1,484,470 Cleveland.u ..,.;.'Feb. 19, 1924 L2,.Q ,40 Wentzel Oct. 8, 1935 2,469,642 Grewe May 10, 1949 r 2,625,138 Iacoby Ian. 13.11953 45,700 Phalen Mayli, 1956 EQREIGN" PATENTS a 67,791 France Oct. 7,:1957 (lst addition of Patent #1,115,'5 89j) 513,013 Great Britain Oct. 2 1939 7 947,017 France Ian. 3; 1949 1,0293011 Fr'ance Mar. 1 19 53 

